Metal folding crate.



W. P. GRIFFITH.

METAL FOLDING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED 050. 9, 19m.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHET I.

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Patented Dec. 14,

WILLIAM P. GRIFFITH, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

METAL FOLDING caa'rn.

LIME-T502.

new and useful, Improvements in Metal Folding Crates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in metal folding crates.

The object of the invention is to provide a strong and durable crate, constructed entirely of metal, and one whichcan be conveniently and quickly folded for storage purposes.

The invention also comprehends improvements in the details of construction and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved crate. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the crate folded. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating the bottom raised, preparatory to folding the crate. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views illustrating one of the joints; Fig. 5 being a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of one ofthe joints.

The numerals 1 and 2 represent side frames or sections each being similarly constructed, but only one will be described. Each side frame consists of an upper longitudinal angle iron 3, and a lower angle iron 4:, the horizontal portions of said angle irons extending inwardly as shown. The horizontal portions of the angle irons 3 are. re-

inforced by rebending the metalupon itself,

as shown at 3 Connecting the ends of the upper and lower angle irons are strips 6, shown riveted as at 7, to the vertical-portions of said upper and. lower angle irons, and said frame is provided with a single corrugation 3.

Connecting the-angle irons are vertical wires 8, which pass through openings 9 in said irons, and are bent at their ends to em- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 9, 1914. Serial No. 876,234.

Patented Dec. :M, T9115.

brace the inner walls of the irons to hold the wires in position. Connecting the vertical strips '6 are horizontal wires 10, which pass through openings 11 in .said vertical strips, "and the ends of said wires are bent to engage the inner openings of the vertical I strips to lock said wires in position, these wires, together with the vertical wires 8, forming a framework for the said members.

13 and 14 indicate end sections, which are alike, hence but one,.will be described. Each end section comprises an upper angle iron 15, anda lower angle iron 16, the horizontal portions of which are extended inwardly toward the opposite end section, and connecting the ends of the vertical portions of said irons are vertical strips 17, riveted at 18,

each angle iron of the end sections being formed with a single corrugation 13 The horizontal portions of the upper angle irons 15 are reinforced by rebending the metal upon itself, as shown at 15.. r

Vertical wires 19 are passed through openings 20, formed in the vertical portion of the upper and lower .angle irons, and the ends of said wires are bent to hold same in place. Horizontal wires 21 connect the vertical strips 17, the wires passing through openings 22, and the ends are bent to. form an interlock. These wires form a framework for the end section. One of the vertical wires on each end frame is cut out above the top horizontal wire to form openings 22 for the insertion of the hand. The frame. formed by the end and side sections is rolled on top, and extending-from the upper horizontal bars of the side sections are lugs 50, struck out from the metal, and in the lower bars are openings 50 to form means for nesting the crates when stacking.

The end edges of the horizontal portions I of the angle irons on the end sections are rounded as shown at 24, and pivots 25 connect theangle irons of the end sections with the angle irons of the side sections, said pivots' being mounted in bushings 25. The

rounded portions 24, it is to be noted, occur at diametrical corners ofthe angle irons, so v 'as to permit of the folding of the end seca single piece of corrugated metal, andaex tending from the longitudinal edge" of the bottom section are two angular lugs 38, formed at their outer ends with openings 39, through which ;pass two of the vertical wires 8 of one of the side sections, the openings 39 being larger in diameter than the diameter of the wires,-so as to permit of the raising and lowering of the bottom sec- 10 tion. When it is to be made ready for use,

substantialv form, and by reason of the sec-- vand side sections, as clearly shown in the drawings.

When the bottom section falls, oris supported on the lower angle irons, it prevents the collapsing of the end andside sections, and serves to hold the crate structure in tions being formed from angle iron, a strong and durable crate is provided,

When it is desired to collapse or fold the crate, the bottom section is rocked on its hinges, and is then up against the inner surface of the side section to which it is hinged,

and within the confines of the angle irons, as shown clearly in Fig. 4. The bottom section being raised, the side sections are moved in opposite directions, and'through the instrumentality of the pivots 25, the end sections are also rocked. The movement of the various sections continues until the side and end sections are substantially 'parallel, as shown in Fig. 3, the bottom section being snugly closed, and out of the way of the various sections when folded. By this means the crate can be arranged in a compact space for storage or shipping purpses.

What I claim. is: I v I. A crate comprising side sections composed of upper and lower angle irons and flat end strips riveted to the angle irons,

, wires connecting the end strips and the upper and lowerangle irons, end sectlons com posed of upper and lower angle irons and flat end strips riveted to the latter angle iron, and wires connecting the latter fiat end strips and the angle irons of the end sections, vertical pivots connecting thehorizontal portions of the end and side tangle irons, to permit of the folding of the side and end sections in one direction, certain no parts of the horizontal portions of the angle bars of the end sections being shaped to cotiperate with the flat strips of the side sections to prevent the side and end-sections folding in the opposite direction, a bottom 66 section of corrugated metal supported ion the horizontal portions of the lower angle irons of the end and side sections when the crate is open, said bottom section when engaging the bottom angle irons preventing the crate collapsing, and angular hinge vwhich certain of the wires of one of the bottom section, each said hinge member havlng an opening near its-outer end through which certain of the wires of one of the side sections pass, the hinged bottom and the pivoted side and end sections permitting of the crate being folded.

2. A crate comprising side sections com posed of vpper and lower angle irons and fiat end strips riveted to the angle irons and wires connecting the end strips and the upper and lower angle irons, end sections composed of' upper and lower angle irons, and

hat end strips riveted to the latter angle irons and wires connecting the latter fiat end strips and the angle irons of the end sections, the diametrical corners of the 'horizontal portions of the angle irons of the end sections being rounded, pivots connecting the corners of the horizontal portions of the angle irons adjacent the rounded corners, the ends of the said horizontal portions of the angle irons of the end sections adjacent the rounded portions being straight and abutting against the end strips of the side sections to prevent the crate folding in one direction, a bottom section of corrugated metal supported on the horizontal portions of the lower angle irons of the end and side sections when the crate is open, and angular hinge members extending from the side of the bottom section, each said hinge member having an opening near its outer end through which certain of the wires of one of the side sections pass, the hinged bottom and the pivoted side and end sections permitting of the crate being folded.

3. A crate comprising side sections com- 1 posed of upper and lower longitudinally corrugated angle irons and fiat end strips riveted to the longitudinally corrugated angle "irons and wlres connecting the end strips and-the upper and lower longitudinally corrugated angle irons and end sections composed of upper and lower angle irons and fiat end strips riveted to the latter angle irons and wires bonnecting the latter flat end strips and the angle irons of the end sections, the diametrical corners of the horizontal portions of'the angle iron ofthe end section being rounded, pivots connecting the corners of the horizontal portions of the angle irons adjacent the rounded corners, the ends of the said horizontal ortions of the angle irons of the end sections direction, a metal bottom section-supported on the horizontal portions ofthe lower 80 angle irons of the end and side sections when the crate is open and angular hinge members extending from the side of the bottom section, each said hinge member having an opening near its outer end through which certain of the wires of one of the side sections pass, thehinged bottom and the pivoted side and end sections permitting of the crate being folded.

4. A crate comprising side sections composed of upper and lower angle irons and .,flat end strips riveted to the angle irons and wires connecting the end strips and the upper and lower angle irons, each upper angle iron having a horizontal rebent' portion to reinforce said angle irons, and end sections composed of upper and lower angle irons and flat end strips riveted to the latter angle irons and wires connecting the latter flat end strips and the angle ironsof the end sections, the horizontal portions of the upper angle irons of the. end sections being rebent to reinforce said angle irons,

the diametrical' corners of the horizontal portions of the angle irons of the end sections being rounded, bushings extending through the rebent portions at the corners of the horizontal portions of the upper 1 angle irons adjacentvthe'corners, pivots extending through said bushings, bushings extending through the ends of the horizontal portions of the lower angle irons of the end and side sections, pivots extending through thelatter bushings, said latter pivots being in alinement with-the first mentioned pivots the ends of the said horizontal portions 0 the angle irons of the end sections adjacent the rounded portions being straight and abutting against the end strips ofthe side sections to prevent the crate folding in one direction, a metal bottom section supported on the, horizontal portions of the lower angle irons of the end and side sections when the crate is open, and angular hinge members extending from the side ofv the bottom section, each said hinge member having an opening near its outer end through which certain of the wires of one of the side sections pass, the hinged bottom 'and the pivoted side and end sections permitting of the crate being folded.

In t "stimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribin witnesses.

I n sLLI P. GRH H'JLH. Witnessesi W R. 'Gnmrrrnt, 

